Lighting fixture



M. B. BECK April 21, 1942.

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Nov. 5, 1938 INVENTOR. MOEB/ B, B

ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 21, 1942 UNlTED STATES PATENT, OFFICE LIGHTIN FIXTURE Morris B. Beck, Lawrence, N, Y.

Application November 5, 1938, Serial No. 239,032

3 Claims. (CL 240-48) This invention relates in general to lighting fixtures, and in particular to lighting fixtures of the indirect type. More specifically it relates to lighting fixtures of the indirect type in which a portion of the light is diverted to intensify the in cost of manufacture, operation and maintenance and readily installed.

Among the more particular objects of my invention may be mentioned the provision in a lighting fixture of the indirect type of means for diverting a portion of the light that would ordinarily contribute to the general illumination and utilizing it in localized areas to augment the illumination thereof, and the provision in a lighting fixture of the indirect type, of reflecting means for intercepting a portion of the upwardly directed light rays proceeding from the luminous source and directing them downward.

Among the more particular objects of my invention are further the provision in a lighting after. At its lower end it is provided with openfixture of the indirect type of a reflector for directing a portion of the light rays downwardly together with louvers or baffles for shielding the lamp, yet permitting the free downward passage of rays, particularly those proceeding from said reflector.

The more particular objects of my invention also include the provision in an indirect lighting fixture of means whereby the level at which the fixture is hung may be conveniently adjusted by alteration of parts of the fixture in the field, and without the necessity for special tools not ordinarily carried by persons installing the fixtures, and the provision in a lighting fixture of the indirect type, using a silvered bowl incandescent bulb, of means for preventing electrolytic deterioration of the metallic reflecting coating of such a bulb.

These objects and such other objects as will hereinafter appear or be pointed out, are attained in the illustrative embodiment of my in vention shown in the drawing, in which:

Figure l is a fragmentary front elevational view of my improved lighting fixture with portions in section to expose the interior construction;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the fixture; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of a detail.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the numeral I0 designates a socket adapted to receive the base of an incandescent bulb I2, the filament of which is designated by the numeral l4, and which is provided with an inwardly reflecting coating spread over the lower hemispherical or bowl portion of the bulb to a level slightly above that of the filament. Such a bulb is commonly known as a silvered bowl bulb.

The socket Ill is hung from the ceiling by an arrangement that will be described hereinafter and it is shown as surrounded by a socket cover or husk l8, which performs the treble function of ornamentation, of shielding the neck of the bulb from direct observation, and of supporting a system of shields and bafiies whereby the light from the bulb I2 is distributed in the desired manner.

The socket cover I8 is mounted over the socket in a manner to be described in detail hereinings 20, shown as of bayonet type and adapted to receive the upper portions of supporting wires or rods 22 from the. lower edge of which is hung a shield or reflector 24 that is of annular form and is positioned around the bulb l2, which has its silvered portion extending through and below the opening therein. For this purpose the rods 22 may have their lower hookshaped portions extend through openings in the neck portions of the ball fittingsv 26 on the ball portions of which the reflector 24 rests.

Carried on the peripheral portions 28 of the shield or reflector 24 is shown a system of ring louvers or bafiles that serve to shield the bulb from the direct gaze of an observer, while at the same time they permit the passage of light in a vertical direction. These louvers are shown as comprising an inner ring 30 and an outer ring 32, and they are united at spaced intervals in any suitable or preferred manner, as by the spacing bolts 34.

At 36 is shown an annular reflector so contoured and positioned as to intercept and reflect downwardly a portionof the light rays that would normally travel upwardly toward the ceiling. As clearly appears from Figure 1, because of its concavely contoured inner surface light rays striking it are distributed in the areas underneath and adjacent the fixture and these rays thereby serve to augment the light received by these areas from the ceiling, resulting in an illumination intensity thereon that is greater than the average illumination intensity for the room.

The reflector 36 may be supported in any suitthe source and therefore do not interfere with the passage of theserays toward the ceiling. The bafile 4| is conveniently mounted on the support rods 22.

It will now be clear that my improved fixture provides illumination of the indirect type. Whereas however indirect illumination as heretofore practiced provides for the directing of all the light against the ceiling and upper wall portions, in my improved fixture a portion of the light is diverted before it reaches the upper portion of the room, and'is directed downwardly and into areas below the fixture. For this reason it is particularly useful in stores, where increased illumination intensity is desired on show cases. This end is attained with my improved fixtures by hanging them over the show cases.

Another advantage residing in my invention may here be pointed out. Most of the light intercepted by the annular reflector 36 and reflected downwardly thereby is light that in the conventional type of indirect fixture would ordinarily strike the shield thereof and be reflected to the ceiling therefrom. The proportion of this light that is utilized is therefore dependent on the reflective efficiency of the shield. Due to the'fact that its reflecting surface faces upwardy and that consequently dust readily accumulates thereon, thisreflective efiiciency is apt to be relatively low. The reflecting surface of the annular reflector 36, on the other hand, faces downwardly, so that dust can settle thereon only with difficulty and consequently reflection therefrom is apt to p be more efficient. The net result is consequently an increase in the illuminating efliciency of the fixture.

While I have described my improved lighting fixture in its illustrative embodiment as adapted for use with an incandescent bulb of'the silvered bowl type, it will be obvious that it will perform its function in the same manner if a reflecting surface other than that on the bulb itself is used. For example the shield 24 might be extended underneath a clear incandescent bulb, and a reflecting surface formed thereon that would be equivalent in function to the reflecting surface of the silvered bowl lamp, or a reflecting cap might be used on the bulb.

When installing lighting fixtures it is often found that the fixture as furnished by the manu facturer will bring the light source either too high or too low for the best results. Where this height is determined by the length of a pipe or -44 of the pipe 42.

sta-ntial distance along the pipe. to shorten the stem of the lamp, it is therefore metallic reflecting coating l6 of the bulb l0 which is highly destructive of the same and is of frequent occurrence in fixtures in which metallic shields, such as the shield 24, are positioned closely adjacent to the reflecting coating of the lamp. Where such shields are in electrical contact with the grounded portions of the fixture, such as the stem, portions of the electrical circuit of the lamp are at higher potentials than the grounded portions, resulting in electrical currents between such portions and the grounded shield, and such currents pass through the intermediate glass, air and reflector coating. While these currents are small they are of suflicient magnitude to destroy the reflecting coating.

Referring now to the drawing for the constructional features of my improved lighting fixture relating to the points just discussed, it will be observed that at 42 I have shown a pipe threaded at one end, as at 44, to fit into the socket l0,

and threaded at its other end, as at 46, to fit into a part connecting it to the conventional stem '55 carried by the outlet box or other device, and extending downwardly from the ceiling, this part being illustratively shown as the ball fitting 48 of a ball-and-socket joint 52 that is carried by the stem 50. It will be understood that these parts besides serving for the support of-the fixture, serve also to surround the wiring by which the electric current is conducted into the socket ID.

For the sake of completeness I have also shown a canopy 5| of conventional type, held in place against the ceiling by a nut 53 in threaded relation to the ball joint 52.

Surrounding the pipe 42 is shown a casing 54, which is held in-placebetween the shoulder of the ball fitting 50 and a nut 56 on the threaded end It is to be understood that this casing is purely ornamental, enabling the use therefor of material that while lacking in strength is adapted for ornamental effects such as a beautiful finish, while the pipe 42 furnishes 'the necessary strength. For certain types of fix- 45 tures the casing 54 may therefore be omitted.

It will be observed that the threading on-the end 46 of the pipe is shown as extending a sub- If it is desired merely necessary to cut off the excess portion at this threaded end and the resulting pipe will still be threaded at both ends (provided of coursethe cut was made within the limits of the threading, which is made of a length so as to provide-for any normal adjustment). The casing 54, where one "isused, is of course correspondingly reduced in length.

Obviously if desired the pipe 42 might be threaded throughout its'length instead of merely at its end, as shown.

In order to prevent the aforementioned electrolytic effects I have provided electrically insulating means between the pipe 42 and the parts hung from it, and the socket cover [8, which is in electrically conducting relationship with the system of bafiles and reflectors of the fixture. For this purpose I haveshown, by way of illustration, a bushing 58 of any suitable electrical insulating material, having a neck portion extending between the socket cover It and the pipe end 44, and a base portion separating the socket cover from the socket H3. A washer 60, also of suitable insulating material is shown as interposed between the socket cover [8 and the nut 56.

By this construction the socket cover 18 and the reflectors and shields dependent therefrom, are completely insulated from the portions of the fixture that are electrically active or are associated with electrically active parts, and the aforementioned undesirable electrolytic action is prevented.

While I have herein disclosed one illustrative embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that it may be embodied in many other forms, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the disclosure herein is by way of illustration merely and is not to be interpreted in a limiting sense, and that I do not limit myself other than as called for by the language of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention and illu trated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An indirect lighting fixture comprising an incandescent bulb of the silvered bowl type, means for supporting said bulb in a base up position, an annular shield, a mounting for supporting said shield in a position surrounding said bulb substantially at the level of the upper edge of the silvered bowl thereof, an annular reflector for reflecting light from the bulb downwardly and inwardly, a mounting for said reflector whereby it is supported in a position coaxial with the vertical longitudinal axis of the bulb at a level above the upper edge of the silvered bowl thereof, and l the inner rim of the reflector being spaced in a radial direction from the outer rim of the shield, and glare shielding means surrounding the annular shield and preventing direct view of the un silvered portions of the bulb from below the fixture while permitting light rays and air to pass therethrough in a vertical direction, whereby a portion of the light from the bulb will pass without obstruction to the ceiling, while another por tion will be directed underneath the fixture by the annular reflector, and whereby substantially Vertical light rays from the ceiling and from said reflector may pass through said glare shielding means.

2. In an indirect lighting fixture, an incandescent bulb of the silvered bowl type, a socket for supporting said bulb in a base up position, an annular shield, means for supporting said shield in a position surrounding the silvered bowl of the bulb near its upper edge, at least two cylindrical louvers supported from said shield, said louvers being coaxial with the vertical longitudinal axis of said bulb, and being spaced from each other in a radial direction so as to permit the passage of light between them in a vertical direction, and an annular reflector supported on said louvers, the inner rim portions of said annular reflector being positioned above the outermost pair of louvers, and said reflector being of concave transverse section, the concavity of said reflector being directed downwardly and inwardly and the inner rim of the reflector constituting its highest portion, whereby light from the bulb will be directed against the ceiling and against the said annular reflector, and whereby light from the ceiling will pass downwardly between the louvers, and reflected light from the reflector will pas downwardly between the louvers and will be thrown into the area underneath the fixture.

3. In an indirect lighting fixture, an incandescent bulb of the silvered bowl type, a socket for supporting said bulb in a base up position, an annular shield, means for supporting said shield in a position surrounding the silvered bowl of the bulb near its upper edge, at least two cylindrical louvers supported from said shield, said louvers being coaxial with the vertical longitudinal axis of said bulb, and being spaced from each other in a radial direction so as to permit the passage of light between them in a vertical direction, an inverted frusto-conical shield surrounding the neck portion of the bulb, said shield having its surface elements disposed so as to offer the minimum obstruction to the light proceeding from the bulb, and an annular reflector supported on said louvers, the inner rim portions of said annular reflector being positioned above the outermost pair of louvers, and said reflector being of concave transverse section, the concavity of said reflector being directed downwardly and inwardly and the inner rim of the reflector constituting its highest portion, whereby light from the bulb will be directed against the ceiling and against the said annular reflector, and whereby light from the ceiling will pass downwardly between the louvers, and reflected light from the reflector will pass downwardly between the louvers and will be thrown into the area underneath the fixture,

MORRIS B, BECK. 

